Not all the local high school coaches agree with contact practices in the spring. But, they do all agree with one thing: More time with their players.

Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno and Glenville coach Ted Ginn Sr. are not opposed to spring practices, and both think it would set Ohio players up to compete across the country.

“I think it’s one of the things that needs to be looked at,” Trivisonno said. “We’re one of the few states that don’t. It’s one of those things that we’ve got to bring our kids up to the other kids in the country. If we’re going to be what we say we are, then we need to do more.”

For some coaches, though, they don’t just coach football. There are a few coaches in Northeast Ohio who coach track and field along with football, including Ginn.

So, coach, should there be spring football even if you’re juggling coaching two sports at once?

“No question,” Ginn quickly responded.

Kirtland football coach Tiger LaVerde also coaches track for the school. His concern for a small school like Kirtland is how will those schools fare if kids are supposed to be practicing football but are in the middle of baseball, track & field, or another spring season?

“I know our kids work out year-round. They’re already doing year-round training,” LaVerde said of his football players. “Speed and strength training and seven-on-seven, I think, is plenty. Full contact in the fall is (already) hard on kids."

The concussion concerns already out there would push kids away for two reasons, LaVerde said. Their parents would be concerned, as they already are. And he doesn't know if there would be a football overload.

St. Ignatius coach Chuck Kyle shares the same views as LaVerde. Too much contact can soon lead to problems, they say, but more time with their players would be a good thing.

"Coach Meyer is 5,000 percent correct," Cleveland Heights coach Jeff Rotsky said. "From my perspective, it has nothing to do with football. (Kids) need to have that constant focus and tension. It's giving them a positive place to be. Our grade-point average during football season is better than any other time of the year."

The Ohio High School Athletic Association is not a proponent due to the possible impact it would have on spring sports, spokesperson Tim Stried told cleveland.com reporter Ari Wasserman.

But Trivisonno said even just getting more time with their players isn’t talked about.

“Even if it’s the first two weeks in June, give our kids the opportunity to be successful,” Trivisonno said. “I think it’s probably going to help. You’re going to get better at tackling, you’ll do things better. I think it can only help.”

Contact high school sports reporter Lexi Pluym by email (apluym@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@LexiPluym). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

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